We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them.

Consumer Protection Law

Consumer protection law questions? Ask a lawyer now.

Ask a Lawyer,Get an Answer ASAP!

By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them.

I purchased a used car from a dealer 3 days ago. The third…

Customer Question

I purchased a used...

I purchased a used car from a dealer 3 days ago. The third day the check engine light came on and I took the car to my mechanic only to find out that the car will need about $5,000 in repairs. Can I return the car to the dealer and cancel the contract?

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately the right to rescind in Maryland is limited to a very few types of contracts: http://statutes.laws.com/maryland/real-property/title-7/subtitle-3/7-310 . There is in general no general 3 day rescission rule on contracts in Maryland. There is such a rule lending agreements, certain vacation home contracts, contracts sold by door-to-door sales reps and a few other categories with highly specific laws addressing those issues, but not / matchmaking services. In general, there is NO such law unless a specific provision of law specific type of contract creates that exception.

Many consumers mistakenly believe all contracts allow a 3-day cooling-off period to cancel. Generally, there's no cooling-off period after you sign a contract. (In Maryland, only a few types of transactions, such as door-to-door sales contracts, allow you a certain number of days to cancel.) However, if the dealer promised finance terms, such as a certain interest rate or monthly payment, and is unable to honor those terms, you can't be forced to accept other terms and may cancel the contract.

And if the contract itself gives you the right to return it or a warranty, then you would have such a right. But otherwise it's going to be "as-is", and your only recourse would be what the seller gives you back. Now if you threaten to go to the BBB, Chamber of Commerce, etc... then maybe they'll work with you, but they have no legal obligation to do so.

I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear, but it is the law. I hope that clears things up anyway. If you have any other questions, please let me know. If not, and you have not yet, please rate my answer AND press the "submit" button, if applicable.

Please note that I don't get any credit for the time and effort that I spent on this answer unless and until you rate it positively (3 or more stars). Look for the stars on your screen (★★★★★). You may need to scroll left/right/up/down to see these stars, but note that the rating is what closes out this question, so it is necessary that you do so.

Are you there? Please note that I am still here, awaiting your response or rating... (please note that rating closes this question out, so if there's nothing else, please rate it so that I can assist other customers that are waiting for answers to their questions).

If you can't see the stars, you may need to scroll up / down / left / or right to see them. This is where you rate so that the question will close out.

My apologies, but I must assist the other customers that are waiting. If you have any other questions, please let me know. If not, and you have not yet, please rate my answer AND press the "submit" button, if applicable.

Please note that I don't get any credit for the time and effort that I spent on this answer unless and until you rate it positively (3 or more stars). Look for the stars on your screen (★★★★★). You may need to scroll left/right/up/down to see these stars, but note that the rating is what closes out this question, so it is necessary that you do so.

If you feel that I have gone above and beyond in this answer (my average answer is about 10 minutes) bonuses are greatly appreciated. Thank you, ***** ***** luck to you!

▼ RATING REQUIRED! ▼ Please don't forget to Rate my service positively. It's only after you rate that I am credited.

I see that you have not responded in some time. Please note that this question is still open until you rate it. I believe that I have answered your question, but if you have any other questions, please let me know. If not, and you have not yet, please rate my answer AND press the "submit" button, if applicable.

Please note that I don't get any credit for the time and effort that I spent on this answer unless and until you rate it positively (3 or more stars). Look for the stars on your screen (★★★★★). You may need to scroll left/right/up/down to see these stars, but note that the rating is what closes out this question, so it is necessary that you do so.

If you feel that I have gone above and beyond in this answer (my average answer is about 10 minutes) bonuses are greatly appreciated. Thank you, ***** ***** luck to you!

▼ RATING REQUIRED! ▼ Please don't forget to Rate my service positively. It's only after you rate that I am credited.

I see that you have still not responded or rated in some time. Please note that this question is still open until you rate it. I believe that I have answered your question, but if you have any other questions, please let me know. If not, and you have not yet, please rate my answer AND press the "submit" button, if applicable.

Please note that I don't get any credit for the time and effort that I spent on this answer unless and until you rate it positively (3 or more stars). Look for the stars on your screen (★★★★★). You may need to scroll left/right/up/down to see these stars, but note that the rating is what closes out this question, so it is necessary that you do so.

If you feel that I have gone above and beyond in this answer (my average answer is about 10 minutes) bonuses are greatly appreciated. Thank you, ***** ***** luck to you!

▼ RATING REQUIRED! ▼ Please don't forget to Rate my service positively. It's only after you rate that I am credited.

I just got a car through a car yard and a broker, the car cost 12and half, I went to get car and the papers from car yard, but never got email from the credit manager until today, I'm not sure if I sh… read more

Purchased a used vehicle in GA in Nov 2018 from used car dealer with a service contract from Red Shield. When I was drigin home the oil pressure sensor light came on, for a few seconds, and went out. … read more

I've sent to the BBB asking about a house I had built winsett barn co took lumber about $500.00 worth and they forgot to concrete the poles around the house now it's dropped anywhere around half inch … read more

We purchased a new RV and had serious issues prior to registering. Contacted seller numerous times for repairs and was driving to a repair appointment and the RV caught fire underneath. No documented … read more

Hi. I purchased a 2016 Jeep Cherokee on May 3. Took the vehicle on drive to VA Beach on Mother Day weekend coming back from out hotel in Williamsburg about 45 minutes into the ride back the transmissi… read more

I have a problem with Michaels, the craft and art chain. I have twenty five pieces of art. I noticed one piece was warped. I then went through the other 15 paintings I have and all but one are warped.… read more

Prepaid $14,628.00 for dental work but not satisfied with work done so far and I have a balance owed me of $3,600+ dollars. Decided to have work completed at another practice. The front tooth crown fe… read more

hi, i just bought a used car from individual person and in 2 days check engine light come on. I want to a serves couple thing has to be fix ... any chance I can return this car by law .....I want to r… read more

i lost my license, and registration went bad on my car so i was unable 2 keep driving it . i only owed $2000 on the the whole car to pay it off i had been paying on this car 4 almost 4 years through t… read more

I have attended the Trump University course and did not realize that there was a Class Act settlement May of last year 2017 that I failed to enroll into but now the settlement is complete and I feel l… read more

If you have a contract for work valued at $60,000, with a contractor who is not licensed in the state of Mississippi, when contractors are supposed to be licensed for work that is $10,000 and over, th… read more

I enrolled in a vocational school and signed a contract. The contract stated that there are "no refunds" of any kind. Period. I enrolled and paid the full $8,000 tuition. I dropped out due to family i… read more

My children are involved in our county 4-h. I volunteer and put in over 50 hours a year in volunteering to be the leader of their club. I admit that in my busy full time job/4 kids/in volunteering I t… read more

my wife went to purchase an AMAZON gift card at Circle K , she gave the cashier 200 dollars, long story short they didn't know what they were doing, and the card was never validated. In the meantime t… read more

DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. JustAnswer is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response to propose specific action or address specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances must be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on these general principles, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains.

The responses above are from individual Experts, not JustAnswer. The site and services are provided “as is”. To view the verified credential of an Expert, click on the “Verified” symbol in the Expert’s profile. This site is not for emergency questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service (last updated February 8, 2012).

DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. JustAnswer is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response to propose specific action or address specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances must be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on these general principles, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains.

The responses above are from individual Experts, not JustAnswer. The site and services are provided “as is”. To view the verified credential of an Expert, click on the “Verified” symbol in the Expert’s profile. This site is not for emergency questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service (last updated February 8, 2012).